Rex Ryan Surrenders to Nashville Police on Misdemeanor Hit-and-Run Charges
Former NFL coach Rex Ryan surrendered in Nashville on November 11 and was booked on six misdemeanor charges tied to a hit-and-run that injured two pedestrians on Broadway. His bond was set at $6,000, and he is due in court December 18.
Former NFL head coach Rex Ryan surrendered to Nashville police on November 11 and was booked into the Davidson County Jail on six misdemeanor charges linked to a hit-and-run that injured two pedestrians, Metro Nashville Police said in a statement.
Ryan, 63, is now an ESPN analyst. His bond was set at $6,000, and he is scheduled to appear in a Nashville courtroom on December 18.
The allegations have not been proven in court. The account below is the version police have given.
What police say happened
Police said the incident took place shortly before midnight on November 5 in downtown Nashville. Two pedestrians were crossing Broadway from 4th Avenue when a truck turned right from 4th Avenue and ran over both of their feet. One of them also suffered a leg injury.
The pedestrians had a walk signal when they were hit, according to police.
The truck kept going, police said, but stopped at a red light at Broadway and Representative John Lewis Way. "The pedestrians said the vehicle kept going, but stopped for the red light at Broadway and Representative John Lewis Way where they waved down the driver," police said.
They said the driver stepped out to argue with them, got back in and drove away. The pedestrians photographed the license plate, which is how police connected the truck to Ryan.
The charges
Ryan is charged with two counts of leaving the scene of an accident, two counts of failure to give information or render aid, and two counts of failure to obey a traffic control signal.
All six are misdemeanors.
ESPN responded in a statement to USA TODAY Sports. "We are aware and are in touch with Rex," the network said.
Ryan's coaching career
Ryan began his NFL coaching career in 1999 as a defensive line coach with the Baltimore Ravens, who won the Super Bowl that season. He rose to defensive coordinator in 2005 and assistant head coach in 2008.
He then became head coach of the New York Jets. They reached the AFC Championship Game in 2009 and 2010, losing to the Indianapolis Colts and the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Jets dismissed him in December 2014 after a 4-12 season.
The Buffalo Bills hired him less than a month later. They finished 8-8 in 2015, and fired him in December 2016 after a loss to the Miami Dolphins ended their playoff hopes. Ryan then joined ESPN as an analyst.
